Thomas Swann, 44, slipped away from his job assignment on Schieffelin Road in Apex around noon Wednesday.
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As darkness fell, prison emergency response teams and local law enforcement officers were still searching for Swann.
He was finally caught around 7:45 p.m. by a member of the Prison Emergency Response Team and his canine.
Swann, 44, is a minimum custody offender serving a seven-year sentence at Sanford Correctional Center for habitual breaking and entering.
He was scheduled for release on March 25, 2027.
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After a law enforcement officer saw someone on foot along U.S. Route 1 south of Apex, Swann was found hiding under some plastic. He was taken into custody without incident.
Swann, who is originally from Cumberland County, will be taken to a high-security prison and charged with escape.
Law officers used a drone in their efforts to find Swann. Later, K-9 officers were brought in to help with the search.
Authorities did not say what level of supervision was on the job detail or how Swann managed to escape notice.